Mac mini to monitor connection.

[mrwobbly]

I need to spec up a Mac mini, monitor, keyboard and mouse just for exclusive use with Apple configurator for 30 iPad mini’s. I see on some sites that the display port to DVI convertor is no longer supplied with the Mac mini. Other sites contradict this.

I see also reports of connecting a monitor via HDMI causes problems with waking up the monitor.

 

Could anybody suggest the best way to connect the monitor for a Mac that needs no high end graphic display.

 

Any suggestions for a cheap compatible Mac keyboard and mouse would be welcome.

 

Thanks in advance.

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

Hi you can get various display port adapters like to VGA. If you shop around you can pick up these fairly cheap. I have various ones in my toolbox.

 

Having done research before into cheap alternative keyboards I found that they are far and few and are often not that cheap. Mice on the other hand seem to be easier to get.

 

Hope that helps

[Norphy]

Unless you're really keen to have an Apple logo and clover leaf printed on the keyboard, you can use any old USB keyboard with a Mac. We just use the cheap Microsoft ones we get with our Stone PCs

[biz]

I VNC in to ours, and don't have a keyboard, mouse or monitor.

[Arthur]

I VNC in to ours, and don't have a keyboard, mouse or monitor.

Without a monitor attached, do you have the problem described below? Also, when you connect via VNC isn't the resolution limited to a maximum of 1280x1024?

 

As is often the case in life though, there is an annoying little problem that crops up when using the Mac mini without an attached display. If there’s no display plugged in, the video drivers won't load and the GPU isn't activated. While this is unnoticeable most of the time, it will adversely affect the server’s performance, especially when you need to connect remotely to your mini via screen sharing. With the GPU inactive, it falls on the CPU to do all the work rendering the graphic interface and unfortunately this causes some issues.

 

The interface can lag and stutter, becoming slow and unresponsive. OS X animations get choppy, cursor movement is slow and menu navigation and typing suffer. Basically the super-smooth GUI experience that is one of the cornerstones of the OS X experience performs well below peak.

 

Source: http://blog.macsales.com/25997-headless-mac-video-accelerator-new-solution-to-old-problem

 

One workaround that is commonly used on headless Macs is to use a display emulator (or make you own) to trick the Mac into thinking there is a monitor attached and therefore load the GPU driver.

 

• blog.macminicolo.net/post/33839671756/build-a-dummy-dongle-for-a-headless-mac-mini
  
• www.headlessghost.com
  
• www.amazon.com/dp/B00FLZXGJ6
  

[biz]

Without a monitor attached, do you have the problem described below? Also, when you connect via VNC isn't the resolution limited to a maximum of 1280x1024?

 

 

 

Source: Headless Mac Video Accelerator – New Solution to Old Problem | Other World Computing Blog

 

One workaround that is commonly used on headless Macs is to use a display emulator (or make you own) to trick the Mac into thinking there is a monitor attached and therefore load the GPU driver.

 

• blog.macminicolo.net/post/33839671756/build-a-dummy-dongle-for-a-headless-mac-mini
  
• www.headlessghost.com
  
• www.amazon.com/dp/B00FLZXGJ6
  

 

I'd not heard of that issue, and I couldn't work out why not, but turns out I was lying (unintentionally). The Mac is plugged in to a monitor with an HDMI to DVI adaptor, which means I haven't run in to that problem and get 1920 x 1200 when I VNC connect.

 

I need to visit that cab more often

 

My recommendation @mrwobbly is to get an HDMI to DVI adaptor and plug the Mac in to any old monitor that has a free DVI.